What is Beauty?

The photo above I edited in Photoshop, to show how false "beauty" can be these days. The left side is unedited, while on the right side, she was made up to be "pretty". The power of Photoshop. In today's culture, the definition of beauty is sadly maimed. The TV's shout to us that true beauty means getting men to lust after you. The billboards say that true beauty means not having a single blemish on your face. So...what is true beauty? "As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women." Song of Solomon 2:2 True beauty includes being willing to stand out as "different" from the culture...and in so doing, people will begin to see your beauty as it stands out against the gnarled and prickly brambles of this world, which are talked up to be ultimate beauty. Hmmm...perhaps - if you want to get stabbed. So, what can we ask God to do in us, so that we become a beautiful lily among brambles? We must fear the Lord. "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30 Fearing the Lord does not mean being afraid of him; coming into his presence like a dog with it's tail between its legs. To me, it means being in awe of who he is, loving him with all of our hearts, wanting to grow closer to him...to be in his presence, and being willing to do anything for him. In the last days, when God's fire burns away all that is worthless, beauty will be found as vain, and charm (as this world knows it) as deceitful. "For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; it's flower falls, and its beauty perishes." James 1:11a We are called to adorn our hearts with a gentle and quiet spirit - which is imperishable beauty. It will last through the fire, and come out as being worth more than gold. But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4 Ultimately it doesn't matter what humans think, as long as God is pleased. What is a gentle and quiet spirit? Well, what is the opposite of a gentle and quiet spirit? One that is rough, rude, unsettled, loud...one that is not willing to trust God, one that shouts for attention, one that does not respect parents, one that flirts or teases at others' expense etc. Therefore, a quiet spirit includes trusting fully in God, not needing to be the center of attention - but even working to promote others and lift them up higher than yourself, loving and respecting parents...even if it doesn't make sense at the time, being kind and careful of what comes out of your mouth etc. We must be willing and eager to spread the good news of the gospel. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" Isaiah 52:7 Think of it - you can have beautiful feet! Trust me, it is better to have beautiful feet in God's eyes, than a beautiful nose in the world's eyes. I know many who may read this are homeschooled, and you may think you don't have many opportunities to share the Good News...but keep your eyes open. Ask God for opportunities, and then embrace them when they come. There are so many people all around us who need to hear of God's saving grace. "People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within." - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross I'm not exactly sure who "Elizabeth" is, but her quote rings very true. When life is going well, and sun shines in a blue sky, anyone can seem to sparkle...but what about the night? When the light is gone, and things are cold and uncertain...perhaps even troubling, our true beauty will only be revealed if Jesus is a light within our hearts. If we are content in him, and willing to let him shine...then is the trues beauty revealed - in the night. It is a beautiful thing to see someone who is so trusting on God, and who has their mind on things above, more than earthly treasures, when they go through a tough season...it is like they radiate peace and joy and beauty. We can never have true beauty unless Jesus is the light in our hearts. We will only be superficial, until we have asked him to shine through us. Now, let me just mention here that there is an element of physical beauty that God has given to all women, to delight their husbands someday (not to delight every young man who walks past you on the street). We must guard this beauty for only our husbands. No, we aren't to dress in sackcloth and ashes, but modesty is a key: dressing with thoughtfulness and care for our brothers in Christ. And, yes, I did say that God has gifted all women with physical beauty of one sort or another....but not all of us are flowers. Some women are beautiful like a river, or a tree, or a sunrise, or a mountain. Perhaps you don't feel beautiful...but perhaps that is because you have been comparing yourself with a flower. Comparing...and envy are two things that we girls often struggle with, but would do well to put aside. God has made us all different, but he loves us all with the same, passionate love. A flower is pretty to look at, it has a beautiful fragrance, and it gives joy to the heart...but what if the entire world was made up of flowers? They would seem dull and ordinary then. But God has gifted us with rivers to refresh us, trees to stand firm and point us to Him...and also to shade us from the heat of the day, sunrises to remind us of His creativity and glory, and mountains to help us to see the bigger picture and all that God has done so far in our lives...and look forward to see the road ahead and all He will do. I think my mother is beautiful like a cavern; there's more to her than meets the eye, she goes deep into the strong mountain of God's Word, and if you explore the depths of her, you will come across refreshing pools, and veins of pure gold running here and there throughout. I love you mom!!! You are beautiful! ~Lady Tai